MinterEllison is facing an almost $800,000 lawsuit from a former employee who claims the top-tier law firm acted against her for raising complaints of bullying and overwork despite the chief executive’s alleged warning that “heads will roll” if staff were caught engaging in such conduct.

The Federal Court case, filed by ex-client monies administrator Alfreda Garnsey, claims MinterEllison’s services division commissioned an investigation into its property team in 2019 over claims of bullying and overwork after a staffer experienced a “mental health event” at the office.